Dec. 19.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3995

8. GRADING STANDARDS FOR LEMONS.

(1) The following are the standards by which the grade of lemons shall be determined:—

(a) Extra fancy grade.—Lemons of this grade shall include fruit ranging in size from 150 to 252 counts (both inclusive) to the standard case. The lemons shall be of a bright uniform yellow colour, well-grown, of normal form, carefully hand-picked from the tree, with stalk trimmed level with the button, sound, thin-skinned, of good texture, even in size, clean, free from disease, spray injury, frost injury, skin puncture, and other defects which cause fruit to decay or which are likely to make the fruit unattractive to the consumer. Very slightly blemished lemons may be included in this grade, provided that no individual lemon shall have more than 5 per cent. of its surface affected thereby.

(b) Fancy grade.—Lemons of this grade shall include fruit ranging in size from 150 to 252 counts (both inclusive) to the standard case. The lemons shall be of good fairly uniform yellow colour, well-grown, of normal form, carefully hand-picked from the tree with stalks trimmed level with the button, sound, fairly thin-skinned, of fair texture, even in size, free from disease, spray injury, frost injury, skin puncture, and other defects which cause fruit to decay or which are likely to make the fruit unattractive to the consumer. Slightly blemished lemons may be included in this grade, provided that no individual lemon shall have more than 10 per cent. of its surface affected thereby.

(c) Small grade.—Lemons of this grade shall include fruit ranging in size from 270 to 350 counts (both inclusive) to the standard case, but no lemons shall be included in this grade which in any other respect than size is of a lower standard than the standard hereinbefore prescribed for “Fancy” grade.

(d) Good grade.—Lemons of this grade shall include fruit ranging in size from 125 to 252 counts (both inclusive) to the standard case. The lemons shall be of good fairly uniform yellow colour, well-grown, of normal form, carefully hand-picked from the tree, with stalks trimmed level with the button, sound, of fair texture, even in size, clean, free from disease, severe spray injury, frost injury, skin puncture, and other defects which cause fruit to decay or which are likely to make the fruit unattractive to the consumer. Blemished lemons may be included in this grade, provided that no individual lemon shall have more than 15 per cent. of its surface affected thereby.

(e) “X” grade.—Lemons of this grade shall include fruit ranging in size to not more than 368 counts to the standard case. The lemons shall be of a yellow colour in appearance, well-grown, of fair form, carefully hand-picked from the tree, with stalks trimmed level with the button, sound, even in size, moderately clean, free from disease, frost injury, severe spray injury, skin puncture, and other defects which cause fruit to decay or which are likely to make the fruit unattractive to the consumer. Blemished lemons may be included in this grade, provided that no individual lemon shall have more than 20 per cent. of its surface affected thereby.

(2) Lemons for inclusion in any grade shall have a minimum juice content of not less than 25 per cent. by volume. For the purposes of this clause the juice content of lemons by volume shall be determined as follows:—

The fruit volume of a representative sample of not less than twelve lemons shall be measured by water displacement. The quantity of juice contained in the fruit shall then be extracted by reaming or by other approved means; then screened by pressing through cheese-cloth, and its volume measured. The percentage of juice by volume shall be ascertained by dividing the measure of the juice volume by the measure of the fruit volume and multiplying the result by 100.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation lemons of the following respective descriptions shall not be deemed to be of the respective standards prescribed for the several official grades:—

(a) In the case of “Extra fancy,” “Fancy,” and “Small” grades, lemons from lots showing heavy decay out of storage, lemons with abnormally long necks, rough, coarse, or misshapen lemons, lemons more than slightly sunburned or more than slightly spongy or with more than slightly hollow core, lemons affected with internal decline, lemons which cut dry for any reason, immature lemons, and shrivelled or aged lemons for their class or colour.

(b) In the case of “Good” grade, lemons from lots showing heavy decay out of storage, lemons with abnormally long necks, rough, coarse lemons, lemons badly sunburned, lemons more than slightly spongy or with more than slightly hollow core, lemons affected with internal decline, lemons which cut dry for any reason, immature lemons, and shrivelled or aged lemons for their class or colour.

(c) In the case of “X” grade, lemons badly sunburned or very poor in colour, very rough, very coarse, badly scarred, very spongy or badly hollow core lemons, lemons affected with internal decline, lemons which cut dry for any reason, very dirty lemons, very immature lemons, and shrivelled or aged lemons for their class or colour.

9. PACKING OF GRADED FRUIT.

(1) In this regulation the term “fruit” means apples, pears, or lemons.

(2) Prior to being placed in packages all fruit of the same kind shall be sized, and only fruit of the same kind and of as nearly as possible the same size shall be packed together in a package.

(3) In sizing fruit of the same kind in any particular size for the purposes of packing, a variation of not more than ¼ in. above the size in question will be allowed, but no fruit of the same kind shall be included in a package which is of less size than that represented by the count hereinafter required to be branded on such package.

(4) Fruit of the same kind and of one grade only shall be packed in each package:

Provided that fruit of the same kind but of different grades may be contained in the same package if the official grade-mark to be placed on the package as hereinafter prescribed is that of the lowest grade of the fruit contained in such package.